We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors comprises 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

That’s due to the fact our homes are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it might help purify the air circulating throughout your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can figure out what’s correct for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC unit to purify your full house. Some models can work independent when your heating and cooling system isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor concentrations.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to ask when getting an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other measures to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs yourself, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Run the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Equalize your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Want to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 918-682-8238 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the best equipment for your house and budget.